addition to timeline at 146
December 28th:
John was scheduled, according to Delaware police, to take an Amtrak train from his Washington office to Wilmington.
Wheeler emailed long-time friend James Fallows of the Atlantic Magazine with a short note, of which the brevity was a surprise to Fallows. (Was it from home computer or cell phone????)
snip...
The same night, police say smoke devices similar to those used to uproot small unwanted animals were placed in—and set off—at the home work site of Frank and Reginia Marini, John’s soon-to-be neighbors
Neighbors said loud noise coming from Wheeler house Christmas week, thinks they came home early. Police find sign of other in home (large work-Boot prints)
Was Wheeler still in his work clothes on the twenty ninth that he wore home on the twenty eighth....Surprised as he entered or soon after entering his own home? Mugged by the intruder who was waiting for him? Taken across the street or chased mugger across the street? Lost cell phone there/then?
Wheeler inquired at city law firm
In the final hours of his life, John P. Wheeler visited the 10th-floor offices of the Connolly Bove Lodge and Hutch law firm in the Nemours Building looking to speak with the managing partner, an attorney at the firm said Monday.
The former Pentagon official was in downtown Wilmington the afternoon of Dec. 30, looking to borrow train fare to travel north, the attorney said.
When a receptionist went to find someone to speak with Wheeler, he was gone.
Wheeler was seen on surveillance video wandering through the Nemours building around 8:30 p.m., still apparently disoriented, and refusing help from passers-by who approached him.
The lawyer at the firm was unsure if Wheeler had any relationship with lawyers there. Arthur “Chip” Connolly, managing partner at the firm, declined to comment Monday about Wheeler’s visit.
Just before his last moments on video, Wheeler exited the Nemours building from its entrance adjacent to 11th Street. He was last seen on video at 8:42 p.m., crossing the Hotel du Pont valet area, then walking southeast toward Market Street and Wilmington’s East Side.
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20110111/NEWS/101110323&theme=WHEELER
BTTT